Chocolate Cherry Oat Smoothie

Name: Chocolate Cherry Oat Smoothie
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Healthy
Ingredients: 1 banana, sliced (frozen is best); 2 cups frozen cherries (pitted); 2-3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup; 2-1/2 cups oat milk; 1-2 tablespoons pure maple syrup; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

by Deborah // March 18, 2022 (updated May 25, 2023)

This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe

You’re going to love this richly flavored Chocolate Cherry Oat Smoothie (aka oat milk smoothie)! This healthy breakfast smoothie is nutritious, delicious and it’s a great way to start your day!

I love everything about this healthy breakfast smoothie!! It’s made with frozen cherries, frozen banana, organic oats, oat milk, unsweetened cocoa, pure maple syrup and pure vanilla extract, and it’s rich with potassium, fiber, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

Oat Smoothie Recipe

Here’s all you’ll need to make this healthy breakfast smoothie. I make it frequently, so I like to keep a stash of frozen cherries and frozen bananas on hand.

Oat Milk – I like to use oat milk for this smoothie with its mild flavor rather than a nut milk.
Rolled Oats – Use old fashioned rolled oats rather than quick-cooking or steel-cut (I like to use Bob’s Red Mill Organic Old Fashioned Rolled Oats)
Frozen Cherries –I use frozen cherries rather than fresh, because they come already pitted.
Frozen Bananas – Tossing frozen bananas in smoothies make them a little richer and creamier and gives them an almost dessert-like quality.
Pure Vanilla Extract – Adding a splash of pure vanilla extract to smoothies makes them taste extra delicious!
Maple Syrup – Adding a dollop of pure maple syrup adds just the right amount of sweetness
Cocoa Powder – Be sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder so you don’t add in any refined sugar to your smoothie. You can also swap out the cocoa powder and use cacao powder instead, which is a little higher in antioxidants.

How to Make Chocolate Cherry Oat Smoothie

This Chocolate Cherry Oat Smoothie is a super easy oat milk smoothie to pull together. Oat milk replaces dairy making this a healthy vegan smoothie. Pure maple syrup and banana adds a little sweetness, and a splash of pure vanilla extract makes this Chocolate Cherry Oat Smoothie taste like dessert.

Blend Oats – Blend oats so it resembles oat flour. (If you have a high powered blender, you don’t need to do this step first, just add the oats in with the other ingredients and blend)
Add Ingredients – Add the frozen cherries and bananas, oat milk, vanilla extract and maple syrup to the blender and blend. If you use frozen banana, it gives this smoothie a creamy dessert like quality.
Variations – You can add 2-3 ice cubes or a little more vegan milk or water to your smoothie if the consistency is too thick for you. (I prefer to add 2-3 ice cubes)
Serve – Pour in glass and serve with a straw. Or if you like your smoothie thick, then pour in a bowl, garnish with berries, nuts, seeds and enjoy with a spoon.

Cocoa Benefits

Cocoa is one of the richest sources of polyphenols and flavanols which have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s always best to purchase non-alkalized cocoa powder and dark chocolate containing more than 70% cocoa to maximize nutritional benefits.

Anti-inflammatory properties
May help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. (1) (2) (3)
Improves levels of nitric oxide in blood, which helps to relax and dilate arteries and blood vessels helping to improve blood flow (4)(5)
May help to lower LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) (6)
Provides flavanols and conversion of tryptophan to serotonin which ay help improve mood. (7)(8)(9)

Cherry Benefits

Cherries are small stone fruits that are rich with antioxidants, vitamin C, anti-inflammatory properties, potassium and fiber.

Diets high in fruits may have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (10)
May help reduce symptoms of arthritis
Drinking tart cherry juice may help improve sleep quality
May aid in faster recovery after exercise (11) (12)

Benefits of Oats

Oats are one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat.

They’re rich with vitamins (B1 thiamin, B5 pantothenic acid and folate), antioxidants (avenanthramides), minerals (magnesium, zinc, iron, and maganese), and fiber known as beta-glucan that may help with weight loss, lowering blood sugar levels and a reducing risk of heart disease.
The antioxidant avenanthramides found in oats may increase production of nitric oxide which helps dilate blood vessels, improving blood flow and may help to lower blood pressure.
One-half cup dry oats contain 303 calories, 13 grams protein, 8 grams fiber, 51 grams of carbs. (13)
They contain more protein than other cereals like wheat, barley and rye. The amino acid make-up of oats is also superior to wheat, barley and rye, containing more of the essential amino acids lysine and trytophan. (14)
They’re an excellent source of fiber, especially beta-glucan, which is known for it’s cholesterol lowering, blood sugar regulating and weight management benefits. (15) (16) (17)
Oatmeal is delicious and it’s filling. Consuming foods that that enhance satiety will help us with appetite control so we’ll be likely to consume fewer calories which may help with weight loss and an improvement in the overall nutritional quality of our diets. (18) (19)

Benefits of Oat Milk

Oat milk is a great alternative to cow’s milk for plant-based and vegan diets, and for those with allergies and intolerances to dairy. It’s also naturally free from lactose, soy and nuts. Though oat milk doesn’t provide the same nutritional benefits as cooked oats, it’s still a decent source of vitamins (Riboflavin, vitamins B12, A and D), minerals (calcium, potassium and iron) and fiber.

Looking for more healthy breakfast smoothie recipes to make?

Yield: 2 servings